‘I Broke That Jinx’ – Popular Female Drummer, Ara Speaks On Why Women Were Prevented From Playing Talking Drum

Aralola Olamuyiwa, popularly known as 'Ara the drummer', a famous talking drummer and cultural ambassador of the Ooni of Ife, has revealed how she defied the jinx that banned women from playing talking drums.
According to TalkTalk Nigeria News, Ara, Africa's first female talking drummer, stated in an interview for the newest episode of the 'Terms And Conditions' podcast that people tried to discourage her from playing the talking drum.
According to Ara, she self-taught herself the musical instrument after being told that playing the talking drum would prohibit her from having children, but she overcame the curse.

She explained, "There are several drums that girls cannot play. I started with traditional drums. However, I have evolved throughout the years. I played several instruments, like bass guitar, keyboard, and set drums.

"But I wanted to try something different, so I began studying how to play the talking drum. People that I approached to teach me were suspicious since I am a woman. So I'm self-taught.


"Although at times I was scared. I thought, 'What could happen to me?' They said, 'You might not be able to have kids.' It's a tradition, but I broke the jinx."

Ara has a son with her estranged husband, Prince Nurudeen Olalekan Saliu.